s new diplomatic envoy, lakhdar brahimi. the 78-year-old former algerian diplomat replaces kofi annan, who resigned last month after his peace plan failed to halt the country's civil war. in damascus, the syrian information minister voiced hope that brahimi will succeed. >> ( translated ): syria welcomed the appointment of lakhdar brahimi, and will offer him every possible help, the maximum assistance the way we did with kofi annan. we will make sure his mission will not lead to a blocked wall like what happened with kofi annan, when the external sides did not respond to his mission and international role. >> holman: meanwhile, the new head of the international red cross arrived in syria. he planned to appeal for greater humanitarian access to civilians caught in the fighting. thousands of syrians have become refugees, death toll and opposition groups say 5,000 were killed in the conflict in august-- the highest monthly death toll yet. the u.n.'s children's fund-- unicef-- estimates 1,600 people died last week alone. a nato